Cloth erasing tool



Sept. 10, 1940. LOVICE 2,214,@84

CLOTH ERASING TOOL Filed Dec. 13, 1938 INVENTOR flvrmum 1 1011658 BY gmAT ORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1940 ii ATE 6 Claims.

The present invention is directed to an erasing tool and is particularlydirected to a cloth erasing tool.

In the manufacture of clothing from woolen, worsted and similar fabricmaterials, which may be utilized for clothing for men and women or otl epurposes, it is quite customary to lay a pattern out upon the cloth witha waxy chalk and then to u ilize an electrically operated cutting devicewi either a reciprocatory or rotating blade to cut the fabric along thechalk line.

Cften it becomes desirable to correct the layout or to change the linesor even to remove the lines altogether and this has been found mostdun-nit because of re tendency of the waxy ch in to adhere ouite closelyto the fuzzy or flbrous surface of the woven fabric.

It has been found that the application of matches or hot irons to obtainerasure often injures the cloth and is quite laborious and timeconsuming.

It is among the objects of the present inventicn to provide an improvedprocess and tool for enabling removal, erasure and correction of waxychalk marks of the character above described without prolonged andtedious erasing operations and without the necessity of using matches orother unsatisfactory heating devices.

A further object is to provide an improved erasing tool of simple,inexpensive and durable construction which may be readily employed byskilled or unskilled labor to remove chalk marks with accuracy and atpredetermined positions without injury to the cloth and without decreaseto its quality.

Other and further objects and advantages will also appear fro-.- themore detailed description given below, it being understood however, thatthis inure detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactoryto apply a heat just slightly above the melting point of the waxy chalk,which varies from 250 to 350 F. on both sides of the chalk line, forexample to a distance of about 1 4 to 1/2 or an inch on each side. Thisheat is applied preferably for a period of less than a minute anddesirably from several to 5 or 10 seconds. 7

It is found under these conditions that the woolen, worsted or similarfabric material absorb (Cl. 219--2l) the chalk without grease stains andwithout leaving any residual deposits upon the surface of cloth andwithout burning of either the \vaky chalk or the cloth.

It is most important that the heat be uniformly applied to the surfaceof the fabric over a relatively large area, in the center or in themiddle portion of which area is located the chalk mark which it isdesired to remove. When this occurs, it appears that the chalk mark isabsorbed and does not leave any particular stain or char upon thesurface of the wool or worsted.

hi designing a tool for this purpose it has been found most satisfactoryto provide a tool with an elongated foot, preferably formed of aflattened metallic tubing, such as a copper or brass tubing. Theflattened foot is preferably completely filled by a resistance elementconsisting of a flat strip wrapped with a resistance wire, the upper andlower sides of which are encased in mica or some other suitablematerial.

It is desirable that the heat over the entire foot element besubstantially uniform without maximum concentration at the center of thefoot. The foot is preferably of rectangular contour and it may have awidth varying from to 1 inch and a length from 1 to 5 or 10 inches, asmay be desired.

The unfiattenecl portion of the extends upwardly at an angle of 30 tofrom the flattened foot. In said tube is preferably provided an airspace into which will ascend the hot air or the heat from the resistanceelement, substantially completely filling the foot.

In this space substantially above the foot is placed an automaticthermostatic cut-ofi" element, which may be adjusted from the exteriorof the tube through an opening to enable regulation of the operatingtemperature.

Connected to the tube may be an insulating handle of wood or Bakelitehaving the central bore through which may extend the electricalconnection for the thermostat and a heater element.

In the drawing which shows one of the various possible embodiments,which may be constructed accor ing to the present invention, but towhich the invention should not be restricted, since this embodiment ismerely illustrative,

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the tool,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view upon the line of Fig. 1 upon anenlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view upon an enlarged tube preferably scale ofthe heating unit removed from the tool of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the thermostatic unit upon anenlarged scale removed from the tool of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tool is provided with a. foot element Acontaining the heating element B with a tubular extension 0 containingthe thermostat element D, and with the handle member E.

The structures A and C may be made integrally out of a single piece ofbrass tubing varying from 3/8 to 3/4 inch in diameter, which iscollapsed at the foot portion A and sealed at its end Ill. Theuncollapsed portion extends upwardly from the bend l l in the footportion A.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, there is sufiicient space between theupper wall l2 and the lower wall l3 of the foot portion snugly toreceive the thermostatic element B, which may consist of single ormultiple mica plates H5, H5

and it. These mica plates are preferably of the same width and length asthe foot B and they have end extensions Ill which are riveted togetherat E8.

Between the upper and middle mica plates i i and i5 and the middle andlower mica plates I5 and 56 are positioned the flat coils l9 and 20,each of which consist of a resistance wire closely wound upon anintervening mica plate of somewhat smaller width than the mica plates ll, l5 and 16.

The electrical connections 2| and 22 to the mica plates extend to therivets 23 and 2 which are connected to the ends of the coils l9 and 20.

As shown best in Fig. 2, heating resistance elements l9 and 2t]terminate at the bend ll, while the tail portion ll extends upwardlyinto the tubular section C and presses against the curved portion 25(see Fig. 2) of said tubular portion C, which affords a frictional lock.

Substantially above the foot B is positioned the thermostatic element D,which consists of a half tubular member 26 having the embossed sideportions 2'! with the inturned edge flanges 28.

The bosses 21 and the flanges 28 hold the Bakelite or fiber insulatingpiece or board 29 in position. This board 29 carries the rivets 30 whichhold the double thermostatic strip 3! in position. The other end of thedouble thermostatic strip is provided witha contact piece 32 which maybe adjustably tensioned by the screw 33, the fillister slot of which isaccessible through the opening 3 in the tubular section C.

The rivet 35 holds the plate 36 in position on the board 29. The plate36 carries the screw 33. The plate 36 has an opening 3'1! which receivesthe end portion 38 of the electrical conduit 2!.

The other conduit 22 extends past the thermostatic element D. A portionof the thermostatic strip Si is also provided with an extension 39having an opening ii! receiving the end ii of the conduit Q2. Theconduit 12, together with the conduit 43, extends through the sleevemember i l and then through the cable 55 to a source of electricalenergy which may, for example, consist of 110 to 120 volts A. C. or D.C.

The sleeve C extends up to the point 46 in the bore ii in the handle E,which is shown as being made of wood. A smaller bore &8 is provided toreceive the cable 35.

The lower portion of the handle E has a small diameter projection 35upon which is received the metallic sleeve 5&3 having the inturned endportion 5i and having the set screw 52 which locks the thermostatic unitD in position, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation a switch (not shown), which may be upon the handle E or atsome remote point, may be operated to supply electrical energy to theconduits 42 and 43. This will set up a flow of current through theresistor elements 19 and 20 heating up the foot and this will heat upthe air within the upper tubular portion C until the predeterminedtemperature is achieved.

This predetermined temperature may vary from 220 F. to 350 F. and at themaximum predetermined temperature, the thermostatic strip 3i will removeitself from the inside end of the screw 53, breaking the circuit anddiscontinuing the heating of the element B. As soon as the air coolsdown in the tube C, the circuit will be reconstituted by thethermostatic element 3! returning to its contact with the screw Theopening 3d not only permits access to the screw 33 to adjust the deviceto a constant temperature, which it is desired to maintain, but alsoenables ventilation in the sleeve element C. By loosening the set screw52 it is also possible to remove the entire unit ABC--D from the handleE for repair or adjustment.

The heating unit when positioned as indicated in the foot (see Fig. 2)will assure disappearance of the waxy chalk marks and dispersion thereofinto the fabric without burning or charring of the fabric.

In Fig. l is indicated the best way of removing the chalk marks 59 uponthe fabric 5i, the erasing tool being preferably moved in the direction52.

For example, when using a tool having a foot about 3 inches in lengthand about of an inch in width, with a chalk mark say of to /8 of an inchin width, it is desirable to draw the foot over the'fabric with acontact of a few pounds per inch so that the time of contact will beabout 1 or 2 seconds up to about 10 or 15 seconds.

The pressure may be increased up to 5 or 10 pounds, but as a generalrule a light pressure is preferred and gives best removal or erasure ofthe chalk marks.

The erasing tool as shown has been found particularly satisfactory withall types of clothmarking chalks containing from 10 to 50 or more percent of paraffin wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, montan wax, spermaceti andso forth.

Even where a pigment, such as titanium oxide, chrome oxide or so forth,is used in the chalk in amounts up to 1 to 5%, a most satisfactorydispersion of the chalk is obtained.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular features oferasing tool designed, and in methods of operation set forth, and inspecific details thereof, without substantially departing from theinvention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific descriptionherein merely serving to illustrate certain elements by which, in oneembodiment, the spirit of the invention may be eifectuated.

What is claimed is:

1. An erasing tool for removing wax chalk marks from cloth comprising aflat elongated thin metal wall hollow foot member, a rectangularwafer-like heater element in and substantially completely filling saidfoot member, said foot member being closed at its forward end, an upwardoblique cylindrical extension from said foot member, integral with saidfoot member and communicating with the interior of said foot memberthrough the rear end of said foot member, a thermostatic controlpositioned in said extension substantially above said foot member and ahandle connected to said extension, said foot member and extensionconsisting of a single piece of tubing.

2, An erasing tool for removing Wax chalk marks from cloth comprising aflat elongated thin metal wall hollow foot member, a rectangularwafer-like heater element in and substantially completely filling saidfoot member, said foot member being closed at its forward end, an upwardoblique cylindrical extension from said foot member, integral with saidfoot member and communicating with the interior of said foot memberthrough the rear end of said foot memher, a thermostatic controlpositioned in said extension substantially above said foot member and ahandle connected to said extension, said handle being provided withcentral passageways and electrical conduits in said passageways.

3. An erasing tool for removing wax chalk marks from cloth comprising afiat elongated thin metal wall hollow foot member, a rectangularwafer-like heater element in and substantially completely filling saidfoot member, said foot member being closed at its forward end, an upwardoblique cylindrical extension from said foot member, integral with saidfoot member and communicating with the interior of said foot memberthrough the rear end of said foot member, a thermostatic controlpositioned in said extension substantially above said foot member and ahandle connected to said extension, said heater element consisting oftwo mica plates closely wound with a resistance wire and insulated fromeach other closely fitted into said hollow foot member.

4. An erasing tool for removing wax chalk marks from cloth comprising aflat elongated thin metal wall hollow foot member, a rectangularwafer-like heater element in and substantially completely filling saidfoot member, said foot member being closed at its forward end, an upwardoblique cylindrical extension from said foot member and a handleconnected to said extension, said extension containing a bimetallicmetal strip and a contact point and means accessible from the exteriorof said extension for adjusting the position of said contact point.

5. An erasing tool for removing and correcting wax chalk marks fromcloth, which chalk marks have been applied thereto preparatory tocutting operations, comprising a thin brass tubular member, having anobliquely bent and flattened end portion, and sealed off, a heaterelement fitting closely in the flattened portion of said tubular member,said heater element consisting of five superimposed mica strips, thesecond and fourth strips closely wound with heat resistant wire, saidstrips having a tail extending beyond said flattened portion into theunfiattened portion, said tail provided with a rivet holding said stripstogether and electrical connections extending to said tail, saidflattened portion bent at an angle of 45 to the axis of the unfiattenedportion of the tubular member, a semi-cylindrical enclosure in saidunfiattened portion formed of a semi-cylindrical metal member and a flatinsulating board closing off one side of said metal member, a bimetallicleaf extending along said board, said leaf riveted to said board at oneend and said board carrying a contact post at the other end of the leaf,adjustably threaded into said board, said unflattened portion having anopening permitting access to said contact post, and a handle membercarrying said tubular member.

6. An erasing tool for removing and correcting wax chalk marks fromcloth, which chalk marks have been applied thereto preparatory tocutting operations, comprising a thin brass tubular member, having anobliquely bent and flattened end portion, and sealed off, a heaterelement inserted into and fitting closely in the flattened portion ofsaid tubular member, said heater element consisting of five superimposedmica strips, the second and fourth strips closely wound with heatresistant wire, said strips having a tail extending beyond saidflattened portion into the unflattened portion, said tail provided witha rivet holding said strips together and electrical connectionsextending to said tail, said flattened portion bent at an angle of 45 tothe axis of the unflattened portion of the tubular member, asemi-cylindrical enclosure in said unfiattened portion formed of asemi-cylindrical metal member and a flat insulating board closing offone side of said metal member, a bimetallic leaf extending along saidboard, said leaf being riveted to said board at one end and said boardcarrying a contact post at the other end of the leaf, adjustablythreaded into said board, said unflattened portion having an openingpermitting access to said contact post, and a hollow wooden handlereceiving the upper end of said unflattened portion and receiving saidelectrical connections.

HERMAN LOVICE.

